Jump into the Dumpster! April 2015

Spirits Alive at the Eastern Cemetery share their new logo… City hires former DHHS GA manager David MacLean as its Director of Social Services… Planned Parenthood of Northern New England turns 50… ‪#‎BaltimoreRiots‬ “A Riot is the language of the unheard.” MLK… 400 international tourism businesses from eight different countries visit Portland for Discover New England Tourism Summit… City’s new outdoor dining regulations require 8-foot sidewalks and barriers… Local foodie writer Avery Yale-Kamilla organizes a showing of the documentary Cowspiracy looking at the environmental impacts of factory farms… Janet Daigle pens a furious letter to City Council condemning the City for not shutting down her neighbor’s fire pit… Spartan Grill owner Mike Roylos shovels 60,000 cigarette butts onto Monument Square as an Earth Day demonstration… A 420 wreck along the Back Bay Trail on 4/20… A lone camel waits for the Shriners’ Circus in a downtown parking lot… Friends of Congress Square Park will manage a grant from Southwest Airlines to improve amenities and programing in the urban park… Anna and Steve of Anna’s Used Furniture retire… Governor LePage and State Senator Andre Cushing seek to prohibit local ordinances on the minimum wage with LD 1361… Jacqui Deveneau is overwhelmed by all the cigarette butts on Parkside Clean-up Day, but did her best… After 2 years Steve Hewins announces he will step down as Executive Director of Portland’s Downtown District… Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad opens for School Vacation Week… Police Chief Michael Sauschuck to serve as Acting City Manager… 2 lynx kittens headline opening day at Maine Wildlife Park in Gray… Black Lives Matter rally invades City Hall… Ethan Strimling passes on posing for a picture with the Greens collecting signatures for $15/hour referendum, but does sign the petition… Baxter Academy’s the Outliers robotics team heading to World Competition in St. Louis… News of a ragtag startup publication, WTF Portland is leaked through social media… On Equal Pay Day (Apr 14) Maine women still earn only 81 cents for every dollar earned by men… Sea Dogs’ mascot Slugger officially announces that he loves Beal’s Lobster Pier lobsters… Portland Schools’ Food Service Manager Nancy McAdam wins Manager of the Year award from the Maine School Nutrition Association… Hannaford gives away reusable shopping bags on eve of new 5 cent City bag fee… School Board postpones last school day to June 19th… Acting City Manager Sheila Hill-Christian accepts the position of Assistant City Manager in Cincinnati… Chief Sauschuck strongly opposes proposal to abolish restrictions on the concealed carry of firearms… Malory Shaughnessy celebrates 2 years at Maine Community Health Options… Local internet series Kitty Critic resurrected for Easter episode with Sorcha… The Regency is among 32 finalists for the 16th annual Maine Family Business Awards… Fr. Mike Seavey leads interfaith Washing of the Feet ceremony on Holy Thursday… Asher Platts claims to be an old fart at the ripe, old age of 32…